In fact walking is a fantastic exercise for weight loss a simple rule of thumb is that a 180 pound person will burn 100 calories for every mile.

The sad reality is that our increasingly sedentary lifestyles have resulted in a situation where we consume many more calories than we burn, hence the obesity epidemic which is spreading across the developed world. Remote controls, cars, computers, etc all contribute to lifestyles that involve just a fraction of the physical activity we are naturally designed for. And if you have been a couch potato for a long time, this can mean something as simple as getting used to walking more. Obviously, if you have a weight problem, you are not going to be able to run a marathon 2 weeks after you start any new exercise programme.

Despite all the media hype over fad "lose half your body weight in 3 minutes" diets, "miracle" diet supplements, weight loss surgery and low carb, low fat, low sugar foods...blah, blah, blah, the simple fact is that the proper way to lose weight in a managed, sustainable way involves changing eating habits and becoming more active.